# ActiveParent vs SchoolStatus Connect

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SchoolStatus Connect at 53% against ActiveParent's 7%. SchoolStatus Connect also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.1) and ratings volume (2K vs 118). ActiveParent's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SchoolStatus Connect holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SchoolStatus Connect has 2K ratings behind it against 118, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 7% of ActiveParent's written reviews are positive against 53% of SchoolStatus Connect's.

ActiveParent ships an update every 3 weeks, SchoolStatus Connect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ActiveParent | SchoolStatus Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activeparent/id1094366944/reviews) | **[4.6 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schoolstatus-connect/id1157953056/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 118 | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | 7.0% of reviews | **53.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 59 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Central Access Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1016471028) | [SchoolStatus](https://appshunter.io/developer/671392067) |

## What reviewers say

### ActiveParent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activeparent/id1094366944)

Access comprehensive student information on your iOS device. View grades, attendance, discipline, schedules, and more. Stay connected with school news and messages.

**Highlights:** View student grades, Track attendance, Monitor discipline records, Access school schedules, Read school news, View AIM messages, Use Touch ID for login

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ App redirects to website
- ❌ Not user-friendly
- ❌ Difficult to navigate
- ❌ Small font size
- ❌ Login issues

**Reported bugs**

- Blank blue screen on launch
- App crashes on opening
- Phone numbers jumbled after registration
- No edit option for contact information
- Cannot log in with correct credentials

**Requested features**

- 💡 Revert to old version
- 💡 Implement Face ID/biometric login
- 💡 Improve user interface
- 💡 Make app function as a true app
- 💡 Add dates to grade entries


### SchoolStatus Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schoolstatus-connect/id1157953056)

This app facilitates seamless communication between educators and families, offering multiple channels like in-app messaging, email, and SMS. It supports over 100 languages for translation and helps manage classroom events, newsletters, and volunteer requests. Track message engagement and maintain a communication log for accountability.

**Highlights:** Multi-channel communication (in-app, email, SMS, phone), Automatic translation for 100+ languages, Classroom event and conference scheduling, Virtual flyers and volunteer requests, Mass notifications and 1-to-1 messaging, Communication log and engagement tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Helpful for teacher-parent communication
- 🚀 Convenient app for school updates
- 🚀 Great way to stay connected with teachers
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Slow to load and update
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate
- 💸 Too many ads, intrusive
- 🔍 Clunky user experience
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy

**Reported bugs**

- Login and password reset issues
- Scrolling and navigation problems
- Inconsistent app behavior and crashes
- Incompatibility with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Add ability to delete old messages and conversations
- Improve notification system and in-app alerts
- Implement a calendar feature
- Allow parents to easily filter and manage notifications
- Add photo album/gallery feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ActiveParent free?

ActiveParent is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SchoolStatus Connect free?

SchoolStatus Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ActiveParent or SchoolStatus Connect?

SchoolStatus Connect is rated higher. ActiveParent averages 2.1 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while SchoolStatus Connect averages 4.6 from 2K ratings.

### Do ActiveParent or SchoolStatus Connect have ads?

Neither ActiveParent nor SchoolStatus Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ActiveParent or SchoolStatus Connect?

ActiveParent ships an update every 3 weeks, and SchoolStatus Connect every 2 months. Most recently, ActiveParent was updated on September 20, 2026 and SchoolStatus Connect on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*